Navigating the Solitude: Exploring the Role of Psychological Capital and its Correlates among Single Working Mothers

Single motherhood, once seen as a deviation from societal norms, is now prevalent globally, presenting challenges such as financial hardship, limited work-life balance, societal stigma, role conflicts, and inadequate support systems. Despite the growing prevalence of single motherhood, limited research in this context underscores a pressing need to examine these dynamics. This study intends to analyze the relationship between Psychological Capital and its correlates among working single mothers in Kerala, with a focus on how Intimate Partner Violence, rumination, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness influence psychological resilience and well-being. A sample of working single moms aged 20-65 from Kerala took standardized evaluations, including the Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Woman Abuse Screening Tool, Ruminative Response Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Subjective Happiness Scale. The study discovered significant associations between Psychological Capital and important psychological characteristics. Life satisfaction and subjective happiness have been found to be substantial positive predictors of psychological capital, while rumination had a negative influence. This study provides knowledge about the psychological struggles of working single moms in Kerala. Lowering maladaptive rumination and promoting happiness can improve psychological capital and overall well-being. The study indicates the need to design interventions and support systems for this demographic.